Wavetrac Differential

joeo · 09-25-2022, 09:23 PM

Anyone have the wavetrac differential? I've had it for about 2 years on a track only 135i, and it was working, but after ~12 months of track use, I'm getting the dreaded 'one wheel peel'. Thought maybe it was fluid, but after another year, it seems to be getting much worse.

As a test, I put the car up on jack stands. If I hold one tire (put a jack under the tire), I can easily spin one wheel. I can also easily spin the drive shaft by hand. There doesn't appear to be any torque being delivered to the wheel held in place by the jack. Valid test? If not, what test can I do?
Planning on calling wavetrac and see what they say.

spidertri · 09-28-2022, 12:54 PM

I'm surprised no one has chimed in, seems like the wavetrac is a pretty popular upgrade. Did you ever hear back from the company?

joeo · 09-28-2022, 08:39 PM

I called them and their answer was the only way to tell if the differential is working is by driving it as there needs to be a load on it. This is somewhat contrary to their literature.
The other way to diagnose is to drain the fluid and check for metal, or look inside the diff for broken parts.

My plan is to send it back to diff's online and either get it fixed, or swap it for something else.

spidertri · 09-30-2022, 09:59 AM

Interesting, unfortunate that that was their response. FWIW, I have a 4 clutch ZF/Drexler style diff and it's been awesome on street and track.

joeo · 10-01-2022, 01:32 PM

It better be awesome given the cost of those things. Where did you get yours?

spidertri · 10-01-2022, 04:36 PM

I got it from limitedslip.de, Florian was really good to work with and made sure I was getting the right set up for how I use the car.

He has many options of build level depending on what you want. For me, I just had him ship the LSD and I installed it in my stock diff.

Olgeezer1 · 01-29-2023, 07:31 PM

No problems at all with my Wavetrac but not a ton of miles and / or extreme use. At any rate you have a lifetime transferable warranty so if there's a problem you should be able to get repair/replacement.

Kotodama · 04-07-2023, 02:30 AM

I realize this is an old thread, but helical gear differentials cannot be tested off the ground as they are not limited slip differentials with clutches. With these you get, "one wheel peel" when one wheel is unloaded, usually through cornering forces lifting a wheel. With the Wavetrac you get, I think, 25% power to the loaded wheel.

09-25-2022, 09:23 PM	#1
joeo Lieutenant 120 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 2009 Crimson Red 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sterling, Va iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMM 135i [9.50]	Wavetrac Differential - Issues Anyone have the wavetrac differential? I've had it for about 2 years on a track only 135i, and it was working, but after ~12 months of track use, I'm getting the dreaded 'one wheel peel'. Thought maybe it was fluid, but after another year, it seems to be getting much worse. As a test, I put the car up on jack stands. If I hold one tire (put a jack under the tire), I can easily spin one wheel. I can also easily spin the drive shaft by hand. There doesn't appear to be any torque being delivered to the wheel held in place by the jack. Valid test? If not, what test can I do? Planning on calling wavetrac and see what they say.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

09-28-2022, 12:54 PM	#2
spidertri Lieutenant 398 Rep 464 Posts Drives: 11 128i 6MT Sport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock Hill, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 128i [0.00]	I'm surprised no one has chimed in, seems like the wavetrac is a pretty popular upgrade. Did you ever hear back from the company? __________________ 11 128i slicktop 13 WK2 19 Alltrack S
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-28-2022, 08:39 PM	#3
joeo Lieutenant 120 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 2009 Crimson Red 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sterling, Va iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMM 135i [9.50]	I called them and their answer was the only way to tell if the differential is working is by driving it as there needs to be a load on it. This is somewhat contrary to their literature. The other way to diagnose is to drain the fluid and check for metal, or look inside the diff for broken parts. My plan is to send it back to diff's online and either get it fixed, or swap it for something else.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-30-2022, 09:59 AM	#4
spidertri Lieutenant 398 Rep 464 Posts Drives: 11 128i 6MT Sport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock Hill, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 128i [0.00]	Interesting, unfortunate that that was their response. FWIW, I have a 4 clutch ZF/Drexler style diff and it's been awesome on street and track. __________________ 11 128i slicktop 13 WK2 19 Alltrack S
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2022, 01:32 PM	#5
joeo Lieutenant 120 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 2009 Crimson Red 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sterling, Va iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMM 135i [9.50]	It better be awesome given the cost of those things. Where did you get yours?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2022, 04:36 PM	#6
spidertri Lieutenant 398 Rep 464 Posts Drives: 11 128i 6MT Sport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock Hill, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 128i [0.00]	I got it from limitedslip.de, Florian was really good to work with and made sure I was getting the right set up for how I use the car. He has many options of build level depending on what you want. For me, I just had him ship the LSD and I installed it in my stock diff. __________________ 11 128i slicktop 13 WK2 19 Alltrack S
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2023, 07:31 PM	#7
Olgeezer1 Lieutenant 185 Rep 506 Posts Drives: 2010 128i 6MT Sport Pkg. 18" Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 E82 128i N52 [0.00]	No problems at all with my Wavetrac but not a ton of miles and / or extreme use. At any rate you have a lifetime transferable warranty so if there's a problem you should be able to get repair/replacement.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-07-2023, 02:30 AM	#8
Kotodama Registered 6 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW 135is Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Wavetrac Differential I realize this is an old thread, but helical gear differentials cannot be tested off the ground as they are not limited slip differentials with clutches. With these you get, "one wheel peel" when one wheel is unloaded, usually through cornering forces lifting a wheel. With the Wavetrac you get, I think, 25% power to the loaded wheel.
	Appreciate 0 Quote